The Kansas City Chiefs kicker got no love from the league after his polarizing remarks.
The NFL on Wednesday issued a measured rebuke of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for his ultraconservative blather during a college graduation speech.
Butker had slammed abortion rights, the LGBTQ+ community and diversity initiatives, while also suggesting that women should be far more eager to become homemakers than to pursue careers.
In his remarks to Kansas’ Benedictine College on Saturday, he even managed to tick off fans of singer Taylor Swift by referring to her merely as teammate Travis Kelce’s “girlfriend.”
The image-conscious league finally hit back in a statement to multiple outlets.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in the statement. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
The league, which is the dominant team-sport entity in the U.S., appeared to focus on Butker citing Pride month as one of the “deadly sins,” as well as his pontificating on “dangerous gender ideologies” and the “tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion.”
He also said that President Joe Biden supports “the murder of innocent babies.”
“Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues,” he said. “Things like abortion, IVF [in vitro fertilization], surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media, all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.”
It’s Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The 2024 election is heating up, and women’s rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America’s future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
News
Beyond Fandom: Decoding the Dynamite Impact of Patrick Mahomes’s Supporters on His Legendary Career
The Impact of Patrick Mahomes’ Fanbase Patrick Mahomes has quickly risen to become one of the biggest stars in the NFL. In just a few short seasons, he has led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory, won…
Travis Kelce’s Pre-Celebrity Days: The Intriguing Insights You Never Knew
Travis Kelce’s Pre-Celebrity Days: The Intriguing Insights You Never Knew Before the touchdown celebrations and endorsement deals, Travis Kelce was just another kid with a dream of making it to the NFL. While he’s now a household name and one…
Kansas City Chiefs’ Star Travis Kelce Reveals Surprising Pre-Fight Training Rituals
The Making of a Champion: Inside Travis Kelce’s Pre-Game Process Travis Kelce is widely considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL. The six-time Pro Bowler has cemented his status as a future Hall of Famer with his…
Patrick Mahomes’ Hollywood Touchdowns: The TV Shows You Never Knew He Was In
Patrick Mahomes: Uncovering the Quarterback’s Hidden TV Cameos Patrick Mahomes has quickly become one of the biggest stars in the NFL. As the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has established himself as one of the most electrifying players…
Fire and Flavor: Patrick Mahomes’ Mouthwatering Tales of Conquering Culinary Frontiers
Patrick Mahomes’ Mouthwatering Tales of Conquering Culinary Frontiers Patrick Mahomes has taken the NFL by storm with his record-breaking performances on the field. But few fans may know that off the field, Mahomes has another passion – cooking. While he…
Travis Kelce’s friend says a wedding between Taylor Swift and the Chiefs star will ‘hopefully’ happen ‘soon’
Patrick Regan – Travis Kelce‘s barber and close friend – is wishing that the Chiefs star ‘hopefully soon’ proposes to his popstar girlfriend Taylor Swift, as he claims that their wedding ‘would be fun.’ Sharing his insights on the NFL’s most high-profile…
End of content
No more pages to load